Timing and signaling device



Nov. 16,1937',y H, HACKETT 2,099,516

TIMING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 16, H. HACKETT TIMING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO R N EYS Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for accurately measuring a predetermined interval of time, and producing an audible signal when a predetermined interval of time has elapsed.

Among the objects of the invention are to produce a mechanism having a dial containing finger holes graduated according to the length of time which it is desired to measure, a main spring which serves both as a return for the dial and a source of power for the escapement mechanism, a throwout mechanism designed to disconnect the dial from the clockwork while the device is being set and arranged automatically to connect the dial with the clockwork mechanism while the device is in operation, and the use of a mutilated gear permitting the dial itself to serve in addition as the sound producing member of the instrument.

By combining two or more functions in a single part of the apparatus as, for example, arranging the dial to serve both as a measuring instrument and as a sound producing member, the necessary number of parts has been greatly reduced and extreme simplication of construction has been attained.

In the particular form or embodiment of this invention here disclosed by way of illustration, the invention is disclosed as applied to an instrument for timing various specific operations where an audible sound is desired at the expiration of the predetermined length of time-for instance, in timing the boiling of eggs, the immersion of plates or films in development solutions or their exposure to light, the length of telephone toll calls, and the like. Other uses of the invention will readily suggest themselves.

In the drawings annexed to and forming a part of this specification two alternate forms of device embodying my invention are disclosed. One form, herein called the pendulum device, is shown in Figs. 1 6, inclusive. A second form, herein called the flywheel device, is shown in Figs. '7-11, inclusive.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a device of the first form, made according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with parts of the front cover plate 2'! cut away.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof with parts of the rear cover plate 45 out away.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section thereof on the line 4, 4 of Fig. 2.

5 is a horizontal section on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 2, showing the shaft 3| in normal position.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5, but showing the shaft 3I in displaced position.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the second form of device embodying this invention, with parts of the annular cover plate 88 cut away.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section thereof on the line 8, 8 of Fig. 7. 5

Fig. 9 is a rear view of a part of the device shown in Fig. 8, the rear cover plate 53 being cut away so that the view is substantially on the line k9, 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line I0, III 10 of Fig. 9, showing shaft 68 in normal position.

Fig. 11 is similar to Fig. 10, but showing the shaft 68 in displaced position.

For convenience this specification sets forth the two forms of device separately, although in l" many respects the same subject-matter of invention is embodied in both.

Pendulum device (Figs. 1-6) Upon a suitable base I9 is mounted a vertical 20 plate I I which serves as a support for the mechanism. Secured to plate II is a shaft I2 upon which is rotatably mounted a circular dial member I4 of heavy metal. The peripheral edges of dial member I4 are turned downwardly at I5 to 5 enclose a portion of the mechanism hereinafter described and to strengthen the dial. At the inner edges of peripheral portion I5 are formed a series of outwardly projecting gear teeth I6 extending around the entire circumference of the 30 dial with the exception of a mutilated sector hereinafter mentioned. In the mutilated sector (see Fig. 2) the edge of the peripheral portion I5 is bent inwardly and formed into inwardly projecting teeth II. The function of teeth I 5 is to en- 35 gage the gear wheel I8; that of teeth I'I is to engage the spring-held clapper I9.

Secured to plate I I is a pin 20. Secured to dial I4 is a pin 2|. A helical spring 22, wound around shaft I2 and secured at its opposite ends to pins 40 20 and 2 I, is arranged to resist clockwise rotation of the dial I4 (as seen in Fig. 2). Pins 20 and 2| are arranged to engage each other when the dial is at its normal or starting position, and to serve as a stop for the dial. 45

Near its periphery the dial I4 is drilled to provide a plurality of openings 23, 23 which serve as nger holes to facilitate the operation of the device. An annular plate 2 4 is secured by welding or otherwise to the back of the dial and car- 50 ries insignia registering with the several openings 23, indicating the length of time which the device is adapted to measure.

A post 25 is Secured to plate II, and to this post is secured a Clapper I9 by a stiff supporting 55 fio spring 25. The outer end of clapper I@ is adapted to engage with Vthe inturned teeth i'i of the dial iii, and, as these teeth successively pass over the olapper, to cause the dial to give forth a belllike sound. For this purpose the dial is made of a suitable relatively strong metal.

A front cover plate 2l is secured to plate iI by rivets 28 and projects forwardly to enclose the gear mechanism hereinafter described, and also to provide support for a nger stop 29. The arrangement is such that the device is set for measuring a predetermined period of time by moving the desired finger hole around to the finger stop, in the manner of operating a dial telephone. Y

Pivoted in hole 3!) of cover plate 2l is a short stub shaft 3i having a reduced end portion 32 for engagement with said hole 30, and having formed integral therewith a smaller gear I8 and a larger gear 33. The arrangement is such that during the period when the device is measuring the predetermined length of time, gear I8'is in engagement with teeth I of the dial, and gearV 33 is in engagement with gear 59 of the escapet ment mechanism hereinafter described.

At its end remote from reduced end portion 32, shaft 3i passes through slot 54 in plate II and is provided with a reduced end portion 35 journalled within a spring-pressed link 3,5. Link 35 is rotatably mounted uponpin 3l (see Fig. 3) which is secured in plate II, and is in yielding engagement with spring 3S. Spring 38 is so arranged as to exert pressure upon link 36 in a direction tending to hold said link, and reduced end portion 35 of the-shaft 3i, in the position shown in Fig. 5, and to resist displacement thereof to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The arrangement is such that when the dial I4 is moved manually in a clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 2), tooth i60. comes in contact with gear t3 and displaces said gear and shaft 3l to the right (as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6) so as to move gear wheel 33 out of engagement with gear 3S (hereinafter referred to). When olial Iii commences to move in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 2) under the influence of spring 22, teeth I5, in engagement with gear wheel I3, will move shaft 3i to its normal position (as seen in Fig. 5). Spring 38 aids in this movement. This movement brings gear wheel 33 into engagement with gear 39 and permits dialY I4 to return to its initial or starting position under control of the escapement mechanism hereinafter described.

The escapement mechanism comprises a weighted pendulum it secured upon shaft M.

'. in vengagement with gear i3.

Also secured upon this shaft is an anchor displacement mechanism' !L'IE having pallets 43, '53 engaging with the teeth of an escape wheel lill secured upon shaft l5 journalled in plate II and carrying, at one end, gear 39.

A back cover plate 45 having a slot M through which the pendulum extends, protects the escapement mechanism and provides a bearing for the shafts ii and d5.

The operation of the device is such that when it is desired to measure an interval of time as, for example, when an egg is placed in boiling water and it is desired to boil it for three and one half minutes, the finger is inserted in' that one of holes 23 of dial id which registers with the appropriate indicia (e. g., 3l/2) and the dial is rotated clockwise until the finger engages stop 29. At the start of this rotation none of teeth l5 are During the first' part of this clockwise movement (as seen in Fig. 2), the mutilated sector of dial I4 is beneath gear I8 and hence there is no contact between any of the teeth I5 and gear i8. Upon further rotation of dial Id in a clockwise direction teeth i6, beginning with toothV i561., engage the teeth of gear it and a lateral thrust is imparted thereto displacing gear IS and shaft 3I on which it is mounted from normal position (as seen in Fig. 5) to displaced position (as seen in Fig. 6). In this manner gear 33 is moved out of engagement with gear 55 of the escapement mechanism, and the dial may be turned the desired extent in a clockwise direction, the gear wheel 33 meanwhile rotating freely.

When dial i4 has been rotated in a clockwise direction (as Seen in Fig. 2) until the nger reaches stop 29, the nger is removed and the dial commences to return in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of spring 22. Engagement of teeth I6 with gear I8 causes gear I8 and shaft 3l on which it is mounted to return from displaced position (as seen in Fig. 6) Yto normal position (as seen in Fig. 5) whereby gear 33 is brought into engagement with gear 39.

By moving the whole device slightly to start the pendulum swinging, the escapement mechanism commences operation, power therefor being provided from spring 22 through teeth I5 and gears i8, 33 and 3S. Accordingly dial I4 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 2) under control of the escapement mechanism until it approaches its initial or starting position. The speed Vbeing constant, the length of time which this return consumes will be directly proportional to the-extent of the original clockwise rotation of the dial. When tooth Ila, at the beginning of the mutilated sector, disengages from gear i8, dial I4 moves more rapidly under the impulse of spring 22 until it reaches its initial or starting position at which pin 2| engages pin 2li. During this latter period of movement, inwardly turned teeth il engage the end of clapper I9 and Successively ride thereover. The impact of clapper i9 upon the successive teeth I'I causes bell-like vibrations to be set up in the dial I4 and an audible signal is thus given indicating that the predetermined length of time has elapsed.

Flywheel' device (Figs. 7-11) bearing indicia, both secured upon the said shaftV 1 by nut 56 and separated from each other by spacer 5?. Dial 5d is provided with a series of finger holes 58 registering with appropriate indicia upon the disc 55. Dial 54 is provided around all of its circumference, except a mutilated portion hereinafter described, with gear teeth 59. Within a short sector (see Fig. 7) the peripheral edge of dial 54 is Vturned inwardly at (it and is provided with inwardly disposed teeth 5I, arranged to engage a spring-held clapper Said clapper 62 is spring mounted and is secured at SI to plate 5).

A coiled spring E3 surrounds shaft 5I and is se- 4cured at one of its ends to rivet 64 secured to plate 55 and at its other end to pin 65 secured to shaft i. A pin 66 secured to back cover plate 53 is positioned in the path of movement of pin 55 and serves as a stop to determine the initial or normal position of the dial 54.

Gear wheel 51 is secured upon one end of stub shaft @8. Shaft 68 passes through slot 69 ln plate 5i! and its opposite reduced end 10 is journalled in back plate 53. Shaft 68 is journalled within link 1I which is pivotally mounted upon a post 12 secured to plate 50. A spring 13 bears upon link 1i and tends to retain shaft 68 in the lefthand end of slot 69 (as seen in Fig. 9).

Upon shaft 58 is secured gear wheel 14 adapted, when shaft 58 is in normal position (as shown .in to engage gear wheel 15 associated with the escapement mechanism. The arrangement is such that movement of dial 54 in a clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. '7) causes teeth to engage with gear 61 and to displace gear El, and shaft 58 on which it is mounted, from the normal position (seen in Fig. 10) to displaced position (seen in Fig. 11), thereby permitting dial 54 to rotate without being in control of the escapement mechanism. 'Upon return of dial 54 in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 7) under the influence of spring 63, teeth 59 urge gear 51 and shaft 68 from the displaced position to normal position and thus bring gear into engagement with gear 15, thus estabiishing connection between the dial and the esca ement mechanism.

The escapement mechanism comprises a shaft 'i5 journalled at its ends in plate 5D and back cover plate 53 and having secured thereon gear and escape wheel 11. An anchor escape mechanism comprising anchor element 18 having pallets i2, it and balance staff 80 is pivoted on shaft Si jcurnalled at its opposite ends in plate and back plate 53. The forked end 82 of oai-.ance sta-if 8i) engages pin 83 eccentrically unted upon iiywheel 84 which is secured upon 35 journalled in bearings at each of its ,osite ends in plate 50 and back plate 53. A oiled spring 86 secured to the' back plate 53 at Si and to the shaft 85 permits oscillatory movement of the flywheel 84 in the usual manner.

Around the outer edge of the dial 54 is positioned an annular cover plate 88 .secured by screws 59 to plate 50 and serving to conceal the teeth 59 and the gear wheel 61. The annular cover plate 83 carries a finger stop 90 suitably positioned.

This second form of device is similar in its operation to the first. When it is desired to measure an interval of time, the finger is inserted in one of the finger holes 58 according to the interval of time which it is desired to measure. The dial 54 is moved in a clockwise direcuntil the finger encounters the finger stop 95. In this movement spring 63 is put under tension and it tends to return the dial to its starting position when released from finger As dial 54 and disk 55 are both mounted to rotate with shaft 5i, both rotate together. During the first few degrees of the arc of rotation of dial the mutilated portion of its periphery is opposite gear 51 (see Fig. '7). When tooth 59a. engages gear 51, gear 61 and shaft B8 on which is mounted are displaced laterally from normal position (as seen in Fig. 10) to displaced position (as seen in Fig. ll). During further rotation of dial 54 shaft 68 turns freely, since gear wheel 14 has by its displacement been disengaged from gear wheel 15.

When dial 54 commences to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 7) under the infiuence of spring 63, engagement of teeth 59 with gear wheel 61 moves shaft 68 from its displaced position back to its normal position such that gear 14 engages gear 15. Thereupon further counter-clockwise rotation of dial 54, under the inuence of spring 63, is controlled by the escapeinent mechanism operating through gear train 15, 14, 61 and teeth 59 so long as any of teeth 59 are in engagement with gear Si.

When dial 54 has returned in a counter-clockwise direction far enough so that tooth 59a disengages from gear wheel 61, disc 55 moves more rapidly toward its original or starting position (indicated in Fig. 7). During this period of movement teeth 5l on the inwardly turned portion 5E of dial 54 successively engage the pointed tip of clapper 62. The successive impacts of clapper S2 on these teeth 6l produce vibration of the dial 54 which sets up an audible bell-like tone or warning sound. When pin 55 engages pin 56, the dial has returned to its normal position.

The particular form or type of escap-ement mechanism which may be used forms no part of this invention, and any suitable type thereof may be employed. In rotating the dial a predetermined extent, as established by selecting the desired Vinger hole, a predetermined number of the gear teeth around the periphery of ti e dial are moved so as to pass successively into engagement on the return rotation with the pinion (e. g., pinion 18 of Fig. 2). As this pinion, when shaft 3l is in normal position, is under control or" the escapernent mechanism and accordingly rotates at constant speed, the length of time which will be measured until the signal is given will be determined by the number of teeth which successively engage this pinion until the last tooth la is released thereby.

The dial should be of stiff vibratile material suitable to the production of an audible signal when vibrated. For this purpose steel of fairly heavy gauge is well suited, but the exact thickness or material thereof will depend upon the purpose or use to which the instrument is adapted.

I claim:

1. In timing mechanism, in combination, an indicating dial of vibratile material, means supporting said dial for movement from a position of rest to a predetermined position and return therefrom to its position of rest, resilient means opposing said rst movement and yfurnishing power for said return movement, an escapement mechanism controlling said dial during the major portion of its return movement, a resiliently-held clapper, and a series of teeth formed integral with said dial and adapted as said dial nears the end of its return movement successively to engage said clapper whereby said dial is vibrated to produce an audible signal.

2. In timing mechanism, in combination, indicating dial of vibratile material, means supporting said dial for rotation from a position of rest through a predetermined arc of rotation and return through said arc to its position of rest, resilient means opposing said first-mentioned rotation and furnishing power for said return rotation, an escapement mechanism controlling said dial during the major portion of its return rotation, a resiliently-held clapper, and a series of teeth formed integral with said dial and arranged along the arc of a circle concentric with its pivotal center and adapted as Said'dial nears the end of its return rotation successively to engage said clapperwhereby said dial is vibrated to produce an audible signal.

3. in timing mechanism, in combination, a dial ci vibratile material having nger holes showing time-measuring indicia, a pivotal mounting therefor, a finger stop mounted in spaced relation to the finger holes in said dial and adapted to limit rotation thereof to a predetermined extent, a pinion, an escapement mechanism associated with said pinion, a set of teeth arranged and adapted to engage said pinion after predetermined rotation of said dial in one direction, and a second set of teeth formed integral with said dial and adapted during a part of the rotation thereof to strike against means secured to a stationary part of the mechanism whereby said dial is vibrated to produce an audible signal.

4. In timing mechanism, in combination, a dial having iinger holes showing time-measuring indicia, a pivotal mounting therefor, a nger stop mounted in spaced relation to the nger holes in said dial and adapted to limit rotation thereof to a predetermined extent, a pinion, an escapement mechanism associated with said pinion, a set of teeth arranged and adapted to engage said pinion after predetermined rotation of said dial in one direction, and a second set of teeth formed integral with said dial and adapted during a part of the rotation thereof to strike against means secured to a stationary part of the mechanism whereby an audible signal is produced.

5. ln timing mechanism, in combination, pivoted means for selecting a predetermined interval of time to be measured, a pinion, a series of teeth adapted to move with said pivoted means and to engage said pinion, escape mechanism associated with said pinion, means intermediate said pinion and said escape mechanism for disconnecting said pinion and said escape mechanism upon movement of said teeth in one direction and for establishing mechanical connection between said pinion and said escape mechanism upon movement of said teeth in the other direction, resiliently-held means, and a second series of teeth adapted to move with said pivoted means and during a part of their said movement successively to engage said resiliently-held means Y l of said dial and having a mutilated sector, gear teeth within said mutilated sector positioned on a circle different from the circle of said rst mentioned teeth, escapement mechanism interconnected Vthrough a train of gears adapted to engage with said first-mentioned gear teeth, and a resiliently-held clapper adapted to engage with the teeth within said mutilated sector to vibrate said dial and thereby to produce an audible signal.

7,In timing and signaling mechanism, a pivoted dial of vibratile material having finger holes showing indicia, a iinger stop to limit rotation thereof from initial position to a predetermined position, gear teeth formed around the periphery ci said dial and having a mutilated sector, gear teeth within said mutilated sector positioned on a circle different from the circle of said rst mentioned teeth, a pinion adapted to engage said first-mentioned teeth, a shaft on which said pinion is mounted, an escapement mechanism, gear means interconnecting said pinion and said escapement mechanism, means permitting lateral displacement of said shaft to disengage said gear means on rotation of saidV dial from its initial to its predetermined position, and a resilientlyheld clapper adapted to engage with the teeth within said'mutilated sector to vibrate said dial and `thereby to produce an audible signal.

HARRY HACKETT.

lOl, 

